Cup

ABSTRACT

A cup including a main body is provided. The main body has a bottom, an outer side surface and an inner side surface. The outer side surface is smooth and arcuate. The inner side surface has plural protruding portions extending longitudinally and arranged on the inner side surface annularly. The inner side surface has plural concave portions extending longitudinally. Each of the concave portions is formed between two protruding portions. The inner side surface is arranged with at least one reinforcing rib integrally protruding thereon and extending radially. The reinforcing rib divides at least parts of the protruding and concave portions into two material-reduced areas. Whereby, the usage of material of the main body can be reduced, and the reinforcing rib provides excellent structural strength of the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cup.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A cup is used generally for receiving liquid. Regarding to a disposablecup, for weight lighting and cost saving, the disposable cup usually bemade of plastic materials such as PET, high-density PE (HDPE), PVC,low-density PE (LDPE) or PP.

Besides, to enhance structural strength, an increase of thickness isusually taken to avoid deformation of the cup due to hand grab or breakof the cup due to dropping on the ground, which, however, results in anincrease of the used plastic material and production, and is notenvironment-friendly.

A heat-isolating cup as disclosed in TW M360639 is provided with aninner layer is wave-shaped and an outer annular shell disposed aroundthe outer surface thereof. There exists gap between the inner layer andthe outer annular shell so that the heat can whereby be isolated and thestructural strength of the cup can also be minorly enhanced. However,the above conventional structure requires plenty of raw materials, andthe inner layer and the outer annular shell have to be manufacturedindividually, thus increasing the production cost and being unable tocater for market requirements.

The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at leastmitigate the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cup which has betterstructural strength and is uneasily deformed and broken.

To achieve the above and other objects, a cup includes a main body. Themain body includes a bottom, an outer side surface and an inner sidesurface. The bottom and the inner side surface define a receiving space,and the outer side surface is smooth and arcuate. The inner side surfaceincludes plural protruding portions extending longitudinally, and theprotruding portions are arranged on the inner side surface annularly.Every two adjacent protruding portions define a concave portionextending longitudinally therebetween. The inner side surface has atleast one reinforcing rib integrally protruding therefrom and extendingradially, and the reinforcing rib divides at least parts of theprotruding portions and at least parts of the concave portions into twomaterial-reduced areas.

In the invention, every two adjacent protruding portions define one ofthe concave portion therebetween, which can reduce the usage of materialand weight of the cup. Besides, since the inner side surface isconfigured to have the reinforcing rib(s), the structural strength ofthe cup can be enhanced. As such, the cup is light and strong instructure, and it is cost-saving in production.

The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferredembodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an annular arcuate surfaceaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a reinforcing rib accordingto a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view showing another annular arcuatesurface according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cup according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention includes a main body 10. The main body 10 includesa top edge 20, a bottom 30, an outer side surface 40 and an inner sidesurface. The outer diameter of the top edge 20 is greater than that ofthe bottom 30 so that the main body 10 is shaped as a part of a conicalshell body. The bottom 30 and the inner side surface define a receivingspace for receiving thing(s) such as liquid or particles. The outer sidesurface 40 is preferably smooth and arcuate so as to facilitate printingor adhesion of a film thereon. The inner side surface includes pluralprotruding portions 51 extending longitudinally, and the protrudingportions 51 are arranged on the inner side surface annularly. Every twoadjacent protruding portions 51 define a concave portion 52 extendinglongitudinally therebetween. Preferably, the amount of the protrudingportions 51 is within a range from 45 to 60, and the amount of theconcave portions 52 is equal to that of the protruding portions. In thisembodiment, each protruding portion 51 is convex, the curvature of eachconcave portion 52 is equal to that of the outer side surface 40 so thatthe protruding portions 51 and the concave portions 52 form a visuallyplausibly non-continuous wave appearance, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Inan alternative embodiment, the curvature of each concave portion 52 maybe smaller than that of the outer side surface 40 so that each concaveportion 52 is shaped as a concave chamfer, and the protruding portions51 and the concave portions 52 form a visually continuous waveappearance.

Tops of the protruding portions 51 and tops of the concave portions 52are connected to form an annular top portion 53, and bottoms of theprotruding portions 51 and bottoms of the concave portions 52 areconnected to form an annular bottom portion 54. The inner side surfaceis formed with two smooth annular arcuate surface 55, 55′. The smoothannular arcuate surface 55 is disposed between the top edge 20 and theannular top portion 53 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), and the smoothannular arcuate surface 55′ is disposed between the bottom 30 and theannular bottom portion 54 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5).

The thickness of the bottom 30 is greater than distances between therespective vertexes of the protruding portions 51 and the outer sidesurface 40.

The inner side surface has at least one reinforcing rib 56 integrallyprotruding therefrom and extending radially. In this embodiment, theinner side surface has a plurality of the reinforcing ribs 56, thereinforcing ribs 56 integrally extend from and are annularly arranged onthe inner side surface, as shown in FIG. 2. In an alternativeembodiment, the reinforcing ribs 56 may include a plurality of chunkmembers separately arranged around the inner side surface. Preferably,the reinforcing ribs 56 and the main body 10 are coaxial, as shown inFIG. 6. Additionally, the reinforcing ribs 56 are convex, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.

The reinforcing ribs 56 divide at least parts of the protruding portions51 and at least parts of the concave portions 52 into twomaterial-reduced areas. Practically, the inner side surface of the mainbody 10 is configured to have more than one reinforcing ribs 56 atsuitable locations thereof according to the extent of the main body 10,wherein the amount of the reinforcing ribs 56 follows the condition: thediameter of the annular bottom portion 54 is R, a distance from theannular bottom portion 54 to the annular top portion 53 is defined as H,the integer portion of the ratio of H/R is N, and N represents theamount of the reinforcing ribs 56. N of the reinforcing ribs 56 dividethe protruding portions 51 and the concave portions 52 into N+1 of thematerial-reduced areas 57, 57′, 57″. As shown in FIG. 2, as N is equalto 2, the amount of the reinforcing ribs 56 is 2, the two reinforcingribs 56 divide the protruding portions and the concave portions intothree material-reduced areas 57, 57′, 57″. Preferably, the inner sidesurface is configured to have one of the reinforcing rib 56 per unitinterval distance D from the annular bottom portion 30, and the unitinterval distance D follows the following condition: D−1≦H/(N+1)≦D+1.

In the invention, every two adjacent protruding portions 51 define oneof the concave portion 52 therebetween, which can reduce the usage ofmaterial and weight of the cup.

To enhance the structural strength of the cup which is reduced inmaterial usage and weight, the inner side surface is configured to havethe reinforcing rib(s) 56 and the smooth annular arcuate surface 55,55′.

Additionally, according to various requirements of the arrangement ofthe protruding portions 51 and concave portions 52 on the inner sidesurface, the amount of the reinforcing rib(s) 56 can be definitely,precisely and sufficiently defined and chosen. Adequate amount of thereinforcing rib(s) 56 can significantly enhance the structural strengthand anti-deformability of the cup. Therefore, the waste of usage ofmaterial for making the cup due to the redundancy of the reinforcingrib(s) 56 is prevented, and the insufficient structural strength of thecup due to the inadequacy of the reinforcing rib(s) 56 is prevented.

It is noted that, under either of a condition that the cup has onereinforcing ribs 56 and a condition that the cup has more than onereinforcing ribs 56, the upper and lower sides of each of thematerial-reduced areas 57, 57′, 57″ are arranged with reinforcingstructures as the condition D−1≦H/(N+1)≦D+1 is met. As such, each of thematerial-reduced areas 57, 57′, 57″ of the cup can still have sufficientstructural strength and anti-deformability in an instance that the cupis reduced in material usage and weight. Thus, the cup will not havesome weak portion which is easily broken or seriously deformed.

Moreover, the bottom 30 may be provided with a thickness greater thandistances between the respective vertexes of the protruding portions 51and the outer side surface 40. As such, the relatively thick bottom 30is sufficient to bear an external impact thereon and thus not easily bebroken.

Additionally, since the reinforcing rib 56 is convex and the vertexthereof is arcuate, each outer side surface 40 of each main body 10 willnot be scratched by the reinforcing rib 56 as numbers of the main bodies10 are stacked.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A cup, including: a main body, including a bottom, an outer sidesurface and an inner side surface, the bottom and the inner side surfacedefining a receiving space, the outer side surface being smooth andarcuate, the inner side surface including plural protruding portionsextending longitudinally, the protruding portions being arranged on theinner side surface annularly, and every two adjacent protruding portionsdefining a concave portion extending longitudinally therebetween;wherein the inner side surface has at least one reinforcing ribintegrally protruding therefrom and extending radially, and thereinforcing rib divides at least parts of the protruding portions and atleast parts of the concave portions into two material-reduced areas;wherein tops of the protruding portions and tops of the concave portionsare connected to form an annular top portion, bottoms of the protrudingportions and bottoms of the concave portions are connected to form anannular bottom portion, the diameter of the annular bottom portion is R,a distance from the annular bottom portion to the annular top portion isdefined as H, the integer portion of the ratio of H/R is N, N representsthe amount of the reinforcing rib(s), and N of the reinforcing rib(s)divides the protruding portions and the concave portions into N+1 of thematerial-reduced areas; wherein the inner side surface is configured tohave one of the reinforcing rib per interval D from the annular bottomportion, and the interval D follows the following condition:D−1≦H/(N+1)≦D+1; wherein the cup is integrally made of plastic materialin one piece, the cup is tapered from a top edge thereof to the bottom,and each reinforcing rib is entirely solid.
 2. The cup of claim 1,wherein the reinforcing rib integrally extends from and is annularlyarranged on the inner side surface.
 3. The cup of claim 1, wherein thereinforcing rib includes a plurality of chunk members, and the chunkmembers are circumferentially and separately arranged on the inner sidesurface.
 4. The cup of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing rib and the mainbody are coaxial.
 5. The cup of claim 3, wherein the reinforcing rib andthe main body are coaxial.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. The cup ofclaim 1, wherein the curvature of each concave portion is equal to thatof the outer side surface.
 9. The cup of claim 1, wherein the main bodyincludes a top edge, tops of the protruding portions and tops of theconcave portions are connected to form an annular top portion, the innerside surface is formed with at least one annular arcuate surface, andthe annular arcuate surface is disposed between the top edge and theannular top portion.
 10. The cup of claim 1, wherein bottoms of theprotruding portions and bottoms of the concave portions are connected toform an annular bottom portion, the inner side surface is formed with atleast one annular arcuate surface, and the annular arcuate surface isdisposed between the bottom and the annular bottom portion.
 11. The cupof claim 1, wherein the thickness of the bottom of the main body isgreater than distances between the respective vertices of the protrudingportions and the outer side surface.
 12. The cup of claim 1, whereinviewed in a longitudinal cross-section an inner surface of eachreinforcing rib is shaped in a single convex inwardly and smoothlyconnected with the inner side surface of the main body withouttransition point.
 13. The cup of claim 1, wherein the inner side surfaceis formed with a smooth annular arcuate surface extending upwardly fromthe bottom of the main body.